Creekmore, 27, lives at the Menchville House in Newport News, where on Wednesday evening, Hampton University students presented a new way of gardening to residents at the facility.

The architecture students created the design to allow families living at the facility to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in small spaces. They said the gardens are intended to provide healthy food and an activity mothers can perform with their children.

"We wanted them to have a more endearing lifestyle," said Tabita Daolio, a senior undergraduate in Hampton University's architecture program.

Assistant Professor of Architecture Runo Okiomah said the project was born out of her passion to use architecture to address socioeconomic issues in the community. She said healthier eating habits were identified as a growing challenge for families at the shelter, an issue she said can be solved using creative architecture.

Runo said her hope is that when families move into permanent homes, the gardens will serve as a memorial to the transitions in their lives.

"We designed a way for each family to take their garden with them," she said.

Residents are looking forward to having the gardens so they can teach their children how vegetables grow and encourage healthy eating habits.

"When I was a kid, they said to eat a rainbow every day," resident Tara Updike said.

Updike, 31, lives at the facility with her 2-year-old daughter. She looks forward to having the garden so her daughter will play outside more.

Updike said she shared her idea of using different colored pots with the students, who used it as part of their collaborative effort with the residents to create the final design.